The Head of Communications of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), David Rossi, has
committed suicide, jumping from his office window. In the waste-paper basket was found a note, apparently
to Mr Rossi's wife, simply saying "I did something stupid". The alarm was raised by his PA at around
8.45pm on 6th of March who found his office empty with the window open. It's thought Mr Rossi had
jumped around twenty minutes earlier.

A former journalist, David Rossi had been Head of Communications at MPS for six years
but was under increasing pressure following the scandal that has embroiled the bank in recent months.
Although Mr Rossi's home was searched by police in February, he himself was not under investigation.
Following the apparent suicide however, which was captured on CCTV, police have seized his computer,
memory sticks and mobile phones.

65% of Italian Households on the Breadline

A new report published by the Bank of Italy has suggested as many as 65% of Italian
households have an income insufficient for their needs. A record low number of Italian families are
now able to save any money at all, as the full effect of the economic crisis in Italy hits home.
Among those worst hit are households whose chief earner is unskilled, unemployed, working part time
or retired. Young people living in rented accommodation are also among the poorest people in Italy,
with almost one in four in extreme financial difficulty.

The report also makes note of the worsening problem of distribution of wealth in Italy
- or lack thereof - with the richest 25% breaking away from the majority at an alarming rate. The
news coincides with the recent national election in which Bepe Grillo's anti-establishment Five
Star Movement party brought home 25% of the popular vote, causing a political vacuum while
uncomfortable bedfellows try to form a coalition government.

Milan Clubs to Concentrate on League after Euro Defeats

Both Internazionale and AC Milan have had their fingers severely burnt in European
competition this month, despite the stupendously rich track record of both clubs in international
club football. AC Milan, who have won the Champions League (or its previous incarnations) no fewer
than seven times, were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition in a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona
despite having won the first leg in Milan 2-0, prompting coach Massimiliano Allegri to state that
the team are now concentrating their attention firmly on Serie A.

Milan, whose President Silvio Berlusconi is thought to have done his national election
campaign no harm at all by signing Mario Balotelli from Manchester City in January, are 3rd in the
Italian league, 11 points behind leaders Juventus, after finishing 2nd in the competition last year.

Things aren't much happier on the other side of the San Siro either, with Internazionale
doing no more than saving face when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the Europa League. That
result, which followed a 3-0 defeat to Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane in the first leg, meant that
despite a brave effort, Tottenham were the team to progress to the Quarter Final Stage on the away
goals rule.